Ultimate Preview: 96th Ronde van Vlaanderen (HIS)

[El Pistolero]

Sad to think VDB still came second in the Ronde 2003...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

weather prediction as it stands now: dry and between 10 and 12 degrees. So definately not as hot as it is now (18 degrees celsius now)

 

[Leopejo]

Definitely not Rai 2, but Raisport2, which should show the race from 12:20 till the end at around 17.00.

There might be a parallel broadcast of the decisive moments on Rai 3 too, somewhat after 15.

And Italian commentary probably without the expert opinion of Davide Cassani, who fell on his bike and ended up in hospital.

 

[DominicDecoco]

I want muddy classics soon. Feels like it's been hundred years ago since we had a muddy one.

 

[unsheath]

Surprised that Spinergy didnt break into 5 pieces on the cobbles. Langeveld at long odds for someone who came 4th last year. Looks in good form at GW.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I don't really think there's too much value in these bets. I would probably go for Chavanel @ 23 if I had to put my money somewhere.

 

[Steve H.]

Family affair too! The gray-haired guy to the left of the fan bordered by the yellow box looks like his dad.

....and the boy in the red jacket looks like a brother.

 

[nvpacchi]

Definitely not Rai 2, but Raisport2, which should show the race from 12:20 till the end at around 17.00.

There might be a parallel broadcast of the decisive moments on Rai 3 too, somewhat after 15.

thanks, I'll fix the original post

 

[skidmark]

This year will be a completely different race. I wonder who'll come out on top

My thoughts too... as much as I'm not a fan of tinkering with fairly long-standing tradition, it does make it quite exciting and unpredictable this year to try to anticipate who might be the strongest on the new course. I expect to be surprised by a few names up there at the top.

 

[killswitch]

Interesting interview with Tommeke (in English)

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/video/27032012/58/boonen-cancellara-threat.html

 

[The Hitch]

Part of me still hopes Gilbert is pulling the ultimate April fool, but I think in reality he will keep the tv moto at the back occupied.

What is the logic behind this (for Gilbert)?

I mean its not like the others are just going to let him go because they think he was weak. Its Gilbert, the others will assume he is in top form to be safe.

So if he has been sandbagging, he won't get much from it imo.

 

[El Pistolero]

To catch everyone by surprise. Even a small moment of doubt is enough to win a monument.

This is exactly the way how Freddy Maertens became world champion in '77 actually. After the Tour he withdrew from every race an hour before the finish. But what his rivals didn't know was that he still rode 80km behind the derby after those races. No one believed in Maertens that year, but he became world champion.

 

[The Hitch]

Interesting interview with Tommeke (in English)

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/video/27032012/58/boonen-cancellara-threat.html

Thanks for that. What a legend.

Also is there any other one day race in the world that has such a big build up. Even now still 5 days to go all the talk is about Flanders coming up. THe only race around is a Flanders prep race. The whole week just seems like a build up to Sunday.

 

[Caruut]

Interesting interview with Tommeke (in English)

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/video/27032012/58/boonen-cancellara-threat.html

Why do his chair and curtains look like my granny's house?

Nice to hear an interview in English from him, I'd say his English is probably better than Cavendish's, too. Really good interview.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Thanks for that. What a legend.

Also is there any other one day race in the world that has such a big build up. Even now still 5 days to go all the talk is about Flanders coming up. THe only race around is a Flanders prep race. The whole week just seems like a build up to Sunday.

paris-roubaix is forever the queen of the classics imo. Gets a lot of attention also, but we also have basque in between the two races as a distraction.
ofc flanders is a big deal tho.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I want muddy classics soon. Feels like it's been hundred years ago since we had a muddy one.

I watched 02' Roubaix today in my indoor cycling powermax class

wonderful

 

[Caruut]

I watched 02' Roubaix today in my indoor cycling powermax class

wonderful

My calender has Boonen and Hincapie from '02 for April. Looks muddy alright.

 

[The Hitch]

paris-roubaix is forever the queen of the classics imo. Gets a lot of attention also, but we also have basque in between the two races as a distraction.
ofc flanders is a big deal tho.

I didn't say RVV is the queen of the classics, I said it has a build up like nothing else. Also the fact that it is in Flanders which is basically the home of cycling and everyone watching it gives it another special feel which Paris Roubaix which most people in France don't even know what it is, can never have.

 

[the asian]

My thoughts too... as much as I'm not a fan of tinkering with fairly long-standing tradition, it does make it quite exciting and unpredictable this year to try to anticipate who might be the strongest on the new course. I expect to be surprised by a few names up there at the top.

Yr. It'll be interesting to see whether guys like Boonen and Sagan win on the new course or whether it will be so hard that the puncheurs can win.
It's a pity Gilbert is in bad form. I think he has a better chance with this course.

 

[jens_attacks]

gilbert has this ronde in the bag

if not....hmmm...i think omega somehow will defeat cancellara probably with the chavanel factor.

 

[42x16ss]

I hope Tommeke brings his A game this year and matches everything Cance throws at him. I want to see the two main classics tough guys wailing on each other in the rain "mano a mano" for the crazy Flemish fans and the loser to turn up to Roubaix with the gloves off, fuming, ready for round 2

Also I predict Greenedge to guide Langeveld to a solid top 10. They should certainly have the team for it.

 

[rghysens]

This is exactly the way how Freddy Maertens became world champion in '77 actually. After the Tour he withdrew from every race an hour before the finish. But what his rivals didn't know was that he still rode 80km behind the derby after those races. No one believed in Maertens that year, but he became world champion.

You must mean 1981. 1977 was won by Moser, IIRC.

 

[LugHugger]

paris-roubaix is forever the queen of the classics imo. Gets a lot of attention also, but we also have basque in between the two races as a distraction.
ofc flanders is a big deal tho.

Yep, for me Paris Roubaix is the bigger race. The press corps is huge for PR, bigger even than RvV. They're both incredible races though, I get goosebumps just thinking about these two races!

 

[barmaher]

The weather forecast looks much better for Sunday, as we approach the big race.

Such a shame.

 

[El Pistolero]

You must mean 1981. 1977 was won by Moser, IIRC.

Yeah, '81 lol. Hinault was second and Saronni third.